Network utilizing modified preambles that support antenna diversity

1. A method for use in a communication network having a transmitter and a separate receiver having a plurality of antennas, the transmitter and the receiver using a preamble of a communication packet to facilitate an antenna diversity protocol in the receiver, the method comprising: the transmitter transmitting a first preamble portion; after transmission of the first preamble portion, the transmitter transmitting a second preamble portion which is distinguishable from the first preamble portion; and the receiver, having the plurality of antennas, identifying the first or the second preamble portion for use in antenna diversity protocol processing among the plurality of antennas.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the transmitter transmitting the remainder of the communication packet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first preamble portion is designed for rapid synchronization of communication signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second preamble portion is designed for optimizing multipath compensation.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a third distinct preamble portion, the first, second, and third preamble portions, respectively, providing a distinguishable synchronization pattern, a rapid synchronization pattern, and an optimal multipath compensation pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits a time stamp bit sequence that is identifiable distinct from the first and second preamble portions.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the receiver attempting to select a best antenna from the plurality of antennas for receipt of the remainder of the communication packet if the first preamble portion transmitted is successfully identified by the receiver.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the receiver beginning to perform adaptive equalization if the antenna diversity protocol has completed antenna selection.

9. A method for communicating use in a communication network having a transmitter and a separate receiver having a plurality of antennas, the transmitter and the receiver using a preamble of a communication packet to facilitate an antenna diversity protocol in the receiver, the method comprising: the transmitter transmitting a first of a plurality of preamble portions; after transmission of the first of the plurality of preamble portions, the transmitter transmitting a second of the plurality of preamble portions which is distinguishable from the first of the plurality of preamble portions; and the receiver identifying the first or the second preamble portion for use in antenna diversity protocol processing.